History of the Hartford Ski Club

The Hartford Ski Club (HSC) was founded in 1936 by skiing enthusiasts who wanted to foster interest in both the recreational and competitive aspects of the sport.
There are currently about 300 members.

The HSC was founded on two basic principles:

a low cost approach to skiing

member involvement in club activities

These characterize the Club's informal, happy, low-key but well organized approach to skiing.

Founders

Formation of the Hartford Ski Club was a direct outgrowth of a "dry course" in skiing being conducted at the Broad Street YMCA during the Fall of 1936.

At the last session of the course, the suggestion was made that some of those attending might be interested in forming a ski club;
accordingly, on December 29, 1936, the initial organization meeting was held with the following ten charter members:

Founding Members

A. B. Belcher

Ellsworth Newberry

Harry Gold

Payson Newton

Bunny Goodrich

Monty Pratt

West Griswold

Rocky Ward

James Green

Emerson White

Jim Green was elected to serve as provisional president until the first annual meeting to be held in the Spring of 1937, and the Constitution and By-laws were prepared.
At the first director's meeting in January, 1937, it was voted that the newly formed Club join the United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association.

Talcott Mountain

In the Fall of 1937, the Club obtained the use of the slope on the west side of Avon (Talcott Mountain) and work was started on a trail.
The original open-type shelter and fireplace were constructed in 1939.
In 1941, the lower slope was equipped with floodlights for night skiing.
In 1943, the lower ski tow was erected.
In 1945, the enclosed shelter was built.
In 1951, additional slopes and trails were cleared and the upper ski tows were completely rebuilt.

The abandonment of our Avon slope in 1959 was caused by the lack of snow and the inroads of golf.
It was with nostalgic feelings for many to see the passing of this era in the history of the Hartford Ski Club.

The Mad River Glen Lodge

In 1955, after favorable experience in renting ski lodges for two previous seasons, the Club acquired land at the foot of the chairlift at Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, Vermont.
The Club constructed a ski lodge, complete with all facilities, and designed to accommodate 36.
This lodge has served as the principal focus of the Club.

The basement was finished in the 1960s.
The lodge was substantially renovated and improved during the mid-1980s and the late 1990s.

Bird's Nest Lodge

In 1961, the Club accepted an offer to pay the taxes on an old farmhouse at Berkshire Snow Basin in return for its full-time use.
The house, subsequently named "The Bird's Nest," was painted, cleaned, and partially furnished.
It proved to be a popular lodge, particularly for our family members and weekend skiers.
Its convenience and homey atmosphere helped to draw our members closer together and filled the spot left open when the Club's Avon ski slope was abandoned.
Berkshire Snow Basin closed in 1985.

Magic Mountain

Although the Bird's Nest is no longer available, the Club continues to explore the development of a special relationship with a Southern New England ski area.
To this end, the Club rented a 22 bed chalet at Magic Mountain for the 1990-91 season.

It was hoped that a significant success in this experiment would lead the Club to the permanent development of a Southern Vermont facility.
Unfortunately, Magic Mountain ceased operating in 1992, which ended the experiment.

Magic Mountain reopened in 1998.
Discounted lift tickets are available through the Connecticut Ski Council to Magic Mountain, and other Vermont ski resorts.

Past Presidents

Our thanks to these past presidents of the Hartford Ski Club, Inc.
Life members are shown in italics.

Past Presidents

1937-38

James Green

1938-39

Monty Pratt

1939-40

Ellsworth Newberry

1940-41

Herbert Trask

1941-42

Stephen Butterfield

1942-43

Emerson White

1943-45

Edwin Eaton

1945-46

Gilbert Wicke

1946-47

I. Laird Newell

1947-48

David Duffy

1948-49

Owen Broders

1949-50

Warren Porter

1950-51

Arthur Brown

1951-52

Girard Haviland

1952-53

George Hausmann

1953-54

David Allen

1954-55

Wilson M. Alford

1955-56

J. Murray Marshall

1956-57

Richard Morgan

1957-58

Edwin Eaton

1958-59

G. Webster Kenyon

1959

Donald MacDonald

1959-60

Richard Hicks

1960-61

John Seed

1961-62

William Comstock

1962-63

Gilbert Kleiner

1963-64

Richard Shaw

1964-65

Stephen Langford

1965-66

S. Edward Jeter

1966-67

James Shea

1967-68

David L. Prescott

1968-69

Thomas Desmond

1969-70

Frank Hicks

1970-71

Robert Tracy

1971-72

Joseph Lawsing

1972-73

Frank Douglas

1973-74

Russell Bowen

1974-75

Fred Greenwood

1975-76

Adolf Jochnick

1976-77

Harold Holcomb

1977-78

Walter Schwab

1978-79

Harold Greising

1979-80

William Bowman

1980-81

Elizabeth Stanley

1981-82

William Closs

1982-83

Edward Cole

1983-84

John Scheib

1984-85

Roy Seagren

1985-86

Mike Wasyl

1986-87

Sal Fanciullo

1987-88

Dan Thurston

1988-89

Myron Stacks

1989-90

Jacqueline Bell

1990-91

Ray Vine

1991-92

Rick Fortier

1992-93

Tom Webster

1993-94

Jim Freer

1994-95

Dan Redfield

1995-96

Rae LaMonica

1996-97

Bill Rappa

1997-98

Al Kennedy

1998-99

Doug Carabillo

1999-00

John Scheib Jr.

2000-01

Ken Lerman

2001-02

Pete Richard

2002-03

Carol Yingling

2004-05

Keith Marshall

2005-06

Jim Corrigan

2006-07

Rich Allen

2007-08

Steve Clarke

2008-09

Jack Marshall

2009-10

Jeff Doolittle

2010-11

John Burke

2011-12

Pat MacBeth

2012-13

John Zimmer

2013-14

Andrew J. Skarzynski

2014-15

Susan Dee

Famous Members

Famous HSC members include olympic champions and hall of famers.
Jim Shea was the 2002 Olympic Skeleton Gold medal winner.
Three-term HSC past-president Ed Eaton was elected in 1980 to the National Ski Hall of Fame.

Share Your Memories and Photos

HSC members!
We need your help to supply photos and other details on the last 74 years or so of Hartford Ski Club history.
If you know the answers to any of these questions, please contact us.
Thank you!

More Information

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